Zone selector for wells



June 26, 1962 G. o. HOWARD 3,040,812

ZONE SELECTOR FOR WELLS Filed Aug. 17. 1959 AT TGR'NEY.

United States Patent O 3,040,812 ZNE SELECTGR FR WELLS Glenn O. Howard,Hawkins, Tex., assigner, by rnesne assignments, to `lersey ProductionResearch Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17,1959, Ser. No. 834,291 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-149) This invention relates topumping wells and, in particular, it relates to apparatus for selectingfor pumping either zone of a dually completed well.

The zone selector apparatus permits changing from one zone to anotherzone of a dual completion. so that each zone may be produced by themaximum bore pump for any particular tubing size. A maximum bore tubingpump is desirable because larger fluid volumes can be lifted. Two zonepumps, in some instances, do not handle sufficient fluid from eitherzone to produce the full field allowable. However, full field allowablecan be produced from either zone when one of the zones is pumpedseparately by a conventional tubing pump. The zone to be pumped isselected in accordance with the apparatus of the invention bymanipulating the sucker rod string; the pumping unit being used tomotivate the sucker rods.

Briefly, the invention comprises a longitudinally movable zone selectorwhich in one position fluidly conmiunicates a pump and the upper zoneand seals off fluid communication between the pump and the lower zoneand in another position fluidly communicates the pump and the lower zoneand seals oif fluid communication between the pump and the upper zone.The zone selector is also rotatable and means are provided for lockingthe zone selector in either of its positions by rotation thereof. Thesucker rod string is utilized -to move and to rotate the zone selector.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsucker rod operated zone selector for dual pumping wells.

This and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a description of the invention taken in conjunction with thedrawings wherein:

FIG. l is a sectional View of a borehole showing the apparatus of theinvention arranged therein in one position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that shown in F1G. l, except the apparatusis shown in a different position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the onnection betweenthe pump plunger and the zone seector;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric View of a portion of the working barreland the zone selector extending therethrough; and

FIG. 6 is a View taken on lines 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, in FIGS. l and 2 is shown acasing lil perforated as at 11 adjacent an upper formation or zone 12. Atubular member 14 which functions as the working barrel for a pumpplunger 1'3 is arranged in casing 10. A tubing-casing type packer 15closes oif the annulus between tubular member 14 and casing 10 adjacentthe lower end of tubular member 14. Tubular member 14 is provided with aguide bushing 16. As seen in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, guidebushing 16 includes a flange 17 adapted to be arranged in a recess in acollar 18 of tubular member 14 and two guide slots19 extendinglongitudinally along the interior surface of guide bushing 16. Tubularmember 14 is provided with upper ports 2li adjacent perforations 11 andlower ports 21 provided in a closed olf portion 22 of tubular member 14.

A hollow zone selector 23 is movably arranged in tubular member 14 andextends through guide bushing 16. Adjacent the lower end of zoneselector 23 spaced-apart sealing members 24, 25, and 26 are provided.vThe sealing elements, which may be O-rings, on these members seal oifthe spaces between zone selector 23 and the interior of tubular member14 adjacent these members. Perforations 27 are provided on zoneiselector 23 between sealing members 24 and 25. Two locking lugs 28 arepositioned on zone selector 23` adjacent guide bushing 16. A fishinghead 29 is provided on the upper end of zone selector 23 and a lug 30 isarranged below and adjacent to the iishinghead. Zone selector 23 is openat its lower end and provided with openings 31 adjacent its upper end. Astanding valve 32 is also arranged on zone selector 23 adjacent theupper end thereof.

In FIG. l is shown arranged above zone selector 23 a sucker rod string35 to which is connected pump plunger 13 provided with a traveling valve36. As seen more clearly in FIG. 3, the lower end of pump plunger 13 isprovided with leaf spring latches 37 which releasably engage fishinghead 29 of zone selector 23. As seen more clearly in FIG. 4, leaf springlatches 37 are normally retained retracted in recesses 3S formed in pumpplunger 13. Pump plunger 13 also is provided with sealing means 45 forsealing off the space between pump plunger 13 and tubular member 14.

ln FIG. l zone selector 23 is in its down position in which. positionupper zone 12 is selected lfor pumping. Zone 12 iiuidly communicateswith pump plunger 13 via perforations or openings 11, 20, 27, and 31 andthe lower zone, not shown, is sealed o from fluid communication withpump plunger 13 by means of sealing members 25 and 26 and packer 15.Upward movement of zone selector 23 is prevented `by engagement of theupper end of lugs 2S and the lower surface of guide bushing 16. Downwardmovement of zone selector 23 is prevented by the closed portion 22 oftubular member 14 or by engagement 'of a shoulder 46 and the uppersurface of guide bushing 16.

In FIG. 2 zone selector 23 is in its up position in which position upperzone 12 is sealed oif from fluid communication with pump plunger 13 bymeans of sealing members 25 and 26 and packer 15 and the lower zoneiuidly communicates with pump plunger 13 via perforations or openings 21and 31. When in this position, upward movement of zone selector 23 isprevented by engagement of the upper surface of sealing member 24 andthe lower surface of guide bushing 16 and downward movement of zoneselector 23 is prevented by engagernent ofthe lower end of lugs 28 bylocking recesses 4S located in Ithe upper surface of guide bushing 16.

In operation, when it is desired to change zones, sucker rod string 35is manipulated from the surface and moved downwardly until leaf springlatches 37 latch onto fi-shing head 29, as seen clearlypin FIG. 3. Then,assuming that zone selector 23 is in the down position, as seen in FIG.l, sucker rod string 35 is rotated to the left or counterclockwise untilleaf spring latches 37 engage lug 30. Upon engagement thereof, zoneselector 23 is rotated counterclockwise until lugs 28 are aligned withguide slots 19 in guide bushing 16. Then, sucker rod 35 and the attachedzone selector 23 are.. raised until the lower end of lugs 28 arepositioned above guide @rushing 16. Sucker rod 35 then is rotatedclockwise,

which, in turn, rotates zone selector 23until-lugs 2S are out ofalignment with guide slots 19 and in position for locking recesses 48.Surfaces 8 and 9, formed on guide bushing 16, act as stops for locatinglugs 28 in their rotative positions. lSince guide bushing 16 acts as astop to prevent upward movement of zone selector 23, as previouslyexplained, pump plunger '13 is disconnected'from fishing head 29 bypulling up on sucker rod string 35. Thus, the zone selector by thisoperation has shifted production yfrom the upper zone 12 to the lowerzone. The reverse operation of switching from the lower zone to theupper zone is accomplished in a similar manner except zone selector 23lis rotated counterclockwise and is moved downwardly once lugs 28 arealigned with guide slots 19 by lowering sucker rod string 3S until theupper end of lugs 28 are below the lower surface of guiding bushing 16.Then, after rotation of zone selector l23 clockwise, it is locked in thedown position because guide bushing 16 engages vand prevents upwardmovement of lug 28.

Having `fully described the apparatus, nature, and objects of myinvention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for selecting -for pumping upper or lower productive zonesof aA dual-pumping well having arranged therein a casing perforatedadjacent said zones to fluidly communicate each of said zones and theinterior of said well casing comprising a tubular member provided with-upper and lower spaced-apart openings arranged in said casing andforming an annulus therebetween; packer means arranged on said tubularmember adapted to close oi said annulus between said upper and saidlower zones; a hollow zone selector member slidably arranged in saidtubular member nfor movement between upper and lower positions andprovided with spaced-apart upper, intermediate, and lower openings uidlycommunicating with the interior thereof, said intermediate openingsbeing adjacent said tubular member upper openings when said zoneselector member is in its lower position; rst Vsealing means arranged onsaid zone selector member adapted to close Yoit space between said zoneselector member and said tubular member above said tubular member upperopenings when said zone selector member is in its upper or lowerpositions; second sealing means arranged on said zone selector memberadapted to close or? the space between said zone'selector member andsaid tubular member above said tubular member upper openings when saidzone selector member is in its upper position and adapted to close oitthe space between said zone selector member andv said tubular memberbetween said tubular member upper and lower openings when said zoneselectormember is in its lower position; and third sealing meansarrangedA on said zone selector member adapted to close oit the spacebetweenV said zone selector member and said `tubular member between saidtubular member upper' and lower openings when said zone selector memberis in its upper position and below said tubular member lower openingswhen said zone selector member is in its lower position, andmeans-arranged in said tubular member abovesaid tubular member upper`openings and cooperating means arranged on said zone selector memberabove said first sealing means and below said upper openings adapted tolock said zone selector member in either its upper or lower positionswhereby when it is desired to pump said upper zone, said zone selectormember is locked in its lower position, in which position productionfluids from the upper zone flow through said tubular member upperopenings, through said zone selector member intermediate openings, andthrough said zone selector member upper openings into said tubularmember, saidV tubular member lower openings being closed off betweenVsaid second and third sealing means, and when itis desired to pump saidlower zone, said zone selector member is locked in its upper position,in which position production fluids from the lower zone flow `throughsaid tubular member lower openings,through said zone selector memberlower openings, and through said zone selector member upper openingsinto said tubular member, said tubular member upper openings beingclosed off between said second and third sealing means.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cooperating lockingmeans arranged in said tubular member includes a guide bushing providedwith at least one longitudinally extending groove and said cooperatinglocking means arranged on said zone selector member includes a lugmovable through said guide bushing groove.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including means lowerable in Saidtubular member adapted to engage and move said zone selector member fromsaid r'st to said secondpositionand vice versa.

4. Apparatus yas recited in claim 3 wherein said zone selector membermoving means. includes a sucker rod string.

5. Apparatus for selecting for pumping an upper or a lower productivezone of a duai pumping well having a casing arranged therein perforatedadjacent said zones to uidly communicate each of said zones and theinterior ofsaid well casing comprising a tubular member provided withupper and lowerV spaced-apart openings arranged in said casing andforming an annulus therebetween; packer means arranged on said tubularmember adapted to close ott said annulus between said upper and lowerzones; a hollow zone selector means slidably arranged in -said tubularmember for movement between upper and lower positions and having upper,intermediate, and lower openings fluidly communicating with the interiorthereof, said intermediate openings being adjacent said tubular memberupper openings when said zone selector means is in its lower position;sealing means arranged on said zone selector means above and below saidzone selectory means intermediate openings in a manner such that saidlower zone is sealed oft and said upper zone fluidlyV `communicates withsaid tubular member above said zone selector means through said tubularmember upper openings, said zone selector means intermediate openings,and said zone selector means upper openings when said zone selectormeans is in its lower position, and said upper zone is sealed off andsaid lower zone iluidly communicates said tubular member above said zoneselector means through said tubular member lower openings, said zone`selector means lower openings, and said zone selector means upperopenings when said zone selectorY means is in anllpper position; andmeans arrangedV in said tubular member and means arranged on said zoneselector means cooperating to lock said zone selector means in its upperand lower positions.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 including means lowerable throughsaid tubular member to `engage said zone selector means adapted to movesaid zone selector means from its upper to its lower position and viceversa.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said zone selector meansmovable means includes a sucker rod string. Y

References Cited the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,304,303 YFerguson Dec. 8, 1942 2,307,983 Barnes Jan. l2, 1943 2,668,500 Y Hoier gFeb. 9, 1954 2,681,705 Tappmeyer g u .Tune 22, 1954 2,717,041 Brown vSept. 6, 1955 2,766,831 Y Otis Oct. 16, 1956 2,839,144 Ault lune 17,1958 2,951,536 Garrett n Sept. 6, 1960

